Obama's Judge Problem

As the White House works frantically on a diverse set of policy goals, liberal activists say one critical element of Obama’s agenda has slipped through the cracks: judicial confirmations for appellate and district courts. Only three of the president’s 23 nominations for federal judgeships have been confirmed. Some say Obama’s attempts to ease partisan tensions have only emboldened Senate Republicans: The Washington Post reports that anonymous holds and filibuster threats from the GOP have have “slowed the proceedings to a crawl.” Republicans, however, say the president isn’t carrying his share of the judiciary burden. In the same period that Obama has named 23 nominees, President George W. Bush forwarded 95. Caseloads are beginning to clog the federal judicial system, with 10 percent of judicial seats remaining vacant in appeals and district courts. An Obama spokesman said the White House hopes to pick up the pace soon.